BY NATHAN DOLE
A NINE-GOAL victory by Mitiamo has pushed Marong from the second rung to fourth on the A-grade netball ladder as teams reach the halfway mark of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Jen Wilson-coached Mitiamo played superbly in last Saturday’s match at John Forbes Oval to score a 62-53 win against the Panthers.
Attacks for both teams had been in great touch the previous round and it followed through to be a high-scoring contest on Mitiamo’s court.
The Superoos go into the break on a 6-2 record as the Sue Borserio-coached Marong is now fourth in a season where it has a win-loss tally of 5-2 and a draw.
Favourites won all three other matches.
Maiden Gully YCW almost hit the century mark in its home game at Marist College Bendigo against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Eagles soared to a 99-25 win against the Stacee Burns-coached Bears.
The Demons from Calivil United fired up to score a 22-goal win at Inglewood’s Dissy Machinery Oval.
The Chelsea Hicks-coached Calivil United scored 48 goals and also defended strongly to limit the Blues, who are jointly coached by Helen Ward and Dianne Wayman to a 22-goal tally.
Pyramid Hill was too strong for Newbridge at Mitchell Park.
The Gemma Scott-coached Pyramid Hill moved to second in the premiership race after a 41-25 victory against the Maroons.
It’s been a great run by the team in red, white and blue which has a record of six wins, one loss and a draw across its opening eight matches.
Despite the defeat the Selina Holland-coached Newbridge is still fifth.
The Maroons and Bridgewater are locked on 16 points, but Newbridge is 21 per cent clear of the Mean Machine.
Bridgewater had the bye.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL’s A-grade netball competition:
Maiden Gully YCW 189 per cent, 28 points; Pyramid Hill 125, 26; Mitiamo 152, 24; Marong 160, 22; Newbridge 101, 16; Bridgewater 80, 16; Calivil United 78, 8; Inglewood 45, 4; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 44, 0.
There will be no play on the weekend of June 10-12 because of the King’s Birthday holiday weekend.
The Loddon Valley FNL season resumes on June 17 when the 10th round will be contested.
Marong and Maiden Gully YCW clash on the Panthers’ court at Marong’s Malone Park.
Newbridge takes on Calivil United at Holloway Air Riverside Oval in Newbridge.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine plays Inglewood at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Bridgewater hosts Mitiamo.
Pyramid Hill has the bye.
Round nine scoreboard:
B-grade:
Mitiamo 17 lt Marong 69, Pyramid Hill 40 d Newbridge 30, Maiden Gully YCW 70 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 27, Inglewood v Calivil United n/a, Bridgewater bye.
C-grade:
Mitiamo 37 lt Marong 51, Pyramid Hill 39 d Newbridge 23, Maiden Gully YCW 72 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 28, Inglewood 20 lt Calivil United 41, Bridgewater bye.
C-reserve:
Mitiamo 28 lt Marong 59, Pyramid Hill 24 lt Newbridge 42, Maiden Gully YCW 47 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 36, Inglewood 34 lt Calivil United 42, Bridgewater bye.
17-and-under:
Mitiamo 12 lt Marong 71, Pyramid Hill 21 dr Newbridge 21, Maiden Gully YCW 40 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 44, Calivil United bye, Bridgewater bye.
15-and-under:
Mitiamo 6 lt Marong 48, Maiden Gully YCW 24 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 47, Inglewood 33 lt Calivil United 53, Pyramid Hill bye, Bridgewater bye.
13-and-under:
Mitiamo 11 lt Marong 31, Maiden Gully YCW 31 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 9, Inglewood 13 lt Calivil United 32, Pyramid Hill bye, Bridgewater bye.
Ladders after nine rounds:
B-grade:
Marong 214 per cent, 32 points; Maiden Gully YCW 169, 28; Pyramid Hill 117, 24; Newbridge 100, 20; Bridgewater 103, 16; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 62, 12; Mitiamo 67, 4; Inglewood 55, 4; Calivil United 67, 0.
C-grade:
Marong 208 per cent, 32 points; Maiden Gully YCW 196, 28; Pyramid Hill 157, 24; Bridgewater 109, 20; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 99, 16; Newbridge 81, 12; Mitiamo 77, 8; Calivil United 65, 4; Inglewood 19, 0.
C-reserve:
Maiden Gully YCW 188 per cent, 32 points; Marong 233, 28; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 144, 24; Newbridge 112, 20; Bridgewater 105, 16; Calivil United 74, 10; Pyramid Hill 53, 10; Inglewood 53, 4; Mitiamo 50, 0.
17-and-under:
Bridgewater 148 per cent, 28 points; Marong 172, 24; Calivil United 155, 24; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 141, 24; Maiden Gully YCW 139, 20; Pyramid Hill 63, 10; Newbridge 61, 10; Mitiamo 25, 4.
15-and-under:
Calivil United 181 per cent, 28 points; Bridgewater 140, 24; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 138, 24; Maiden Gully YCW 115, 18; Inglewood 110, 16; Marong 101, 16; Pyramid Hill 80, 14; Mitiamo 24, 4.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 593 per cent, 32 points; Maiden Gully YCW 148, 24; Bridgewater 88, 24; Inglewood 137, 20; Pyramid Hill 77, 16; Marong 62, 14; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 47, 10; Mitiamo 20, 4.